AFRICA ECO RACE: Africa Eco Race is on!

Words AER. Images by Tim Buitenhuis, Rally Tracks; Alexis Blondel; Jorgecunha; & Alessio Carradini; courtesy AER

16th Edition.

On December 28, the 16th edition of the Africa Eco Race was officially launched from the Principality of Monaco.

Diane Thierry-Mieg, former wife of Thierry Sabine, founder of the Paris-Dakar, and Jean-Louis Schlesser, director of the Africa Eco Race, gave the starting signal during a ceremony filled with emotion and passion.

The Africa Eco Race rally-raid will follow in Thierry Sabine’s footsteps, traveling through Morocco, Mauritania, and Senegal, to reach the shores of Lake Rose in Dakar on January 12.

Before this grand departure, all competitors gathered in Italy for two days of technical and administrative checks conducted in the towns of Bordighera, Vallecrosia, and Camporosso.

These meticulous preparations ensured that all participants and their vehicles were ready to face the challenges of the African desert.

Large crowds gathered to admire the various vehicles and cheer on the participants, both in Italy at the accessible ‘parc fermé’ areas and at the starting line in Monaco.

Spirit of Rally-raids!

Since its inception, the Africa Eco Race has upheld the original spirit of rally-raids!

Offering participants an exceptional route through stunning landscapes, while emphasizing the promotion of eco-responsible values and respect for the territories crossed.

Drivers, co-drivers, and support teams will embark on an adventure that will take them through; Morocco, Mauritania, and Senegal.

Culminating in the iconic arrival at the shores of Lake Rose in Dakar, scheduled for January 12.

The presence of Diane Thierry-Mieg, the patron of this 16th edition, brings a special resonance to the start of the race.

It serves as a reminder of Thierry Sabine’s legacy and his vision of rally-raids as events that combine self-transcendence, teamwork, mutual aid, solidarity, and respect for local cultures.

Jean-Louis Schlesser, director of the event, expressed his gratitude to the Monaco and Italian authorities for their support and hospitality.

As well as to all participants and partners who make this event possible.

The Africa Eco Race 2025 caravan landed in Tangier at dawn on December 31.

After a warm welcome from the Tanger Med teams and a hearty traditional Moroccan breakfast, competitors embarked on the first stage toward Tarda.

First Stage.

This first stage was more than a prologue to determine the starting order for the next day.

According to all involved, navigation was subtle on the sandy tracks running along the coast, never leading the competitors onto the beach.

The soft sand complicated driving, giving a foretaste of what lies ahead on the journey to Dakar.

What turned out to be a demanding day covered a 755-kilometer journey, including an initial 47-kilometer special stage.

This unique, entirely sandy timed sector followed the coastal dunes along the sea.

Despite its short distance, the special proved challenging, with tricky navigation and exceptionally soft sand!

• In the motorcycle category, Italian Jacopo Cerutti claimed victory on an Aprilia, ahead of Alessandro Botturi and Pol Tarres, both riding Yamaha.

• In the four-wheel category, Pierre Lafay took first place in a Can-Am Maverick, followed by Magdalena Zajac in a Toyota Hi Lux.

• Vincent Vroninks and his Red-Lined VK56 secured third place.

• In the truck category, the Dutch team led by Will Van Groningen in an Iveco outraced their compatriots Gerrit Zuurmond’s MAN team.

Monaco.

The Africa Eco Race 2025 adventure officially kicked off on Saturday with the departure ceremony in Monaco.

Amid the cheers of an enthusiastic crowd, the competitors headed to the port of Marseille, where they boarded La Méridionale’s vessel Girolata.

This two-day, two-night maritime journey to Tangier was a vital part of the race.

Offering participants time to mentally prepare for the challenges ahead on African terrain.

Onboard, the organizers held strategic briefings to present upcoming stages and reiterate essential safety rules for such a large-scale competition.

In a convivial and collaborative atmosphere, drivers, co-drivers, and their teams used this time at sea to rest and build team spirit.

This calm before the storm allowed everyone to fine-tune strategies and fully immerse themselves in the spirit of the Africa Eco Race.

The Girolata docked in Tangier on the morning of December 31, marking the official start of competitive stages on African soil.

Participants now face unique challenges across Morocco, Mauritania, and Senegal’s varied and demanding landscapes, culminating in the finish line in Dakar.

This first stage was more than a prologue to determine the starting order for the next day.

According to all involved, navigation was subtle on the sandy tracks running along the coast, never leading the competitors onto the beach.

The soft sand complicated driving, giving a foretaste of what lies ahead on the journey to Dakar.

• In the motorcycle category, Jacopo Cerutti recorded the fastest time at 38’33. He expressed his joy at being back on Moroccan tracks with the Africa Eco Race, saying he had “great fun on this stage without pushing too hard.”

• Yamaha’s Alessandro Botturi secured second place with a time of 39’28, while Pol Tarres finished third, 1 minute and 44 seconds behind the leader.

Both riders noted the navigation was ‘not so straightforward’ for a short first special, particularly in its final section.

• Botturi reported feeling ‘at the top of his game,’ while Pol Tarres described it as ‘a dream to race once again on Moroccan tracks with the Africa Eco Race.’

• Notably, Marco Menichini of the Aprilia team, ranked 12th, suffered an impressive fall just 200 meters from the finish line and injured his cheekbone.

Second Day.

The second day of the Africa Eco Race unfolded with a stage linking Tarda to Tagounite, covering a distance of 358 km, including 319 km of selective sector.

Competitors faced typical Southern Moroccan tracks, combining rocky sections with sand. The first dunes of this edition made their appearance.

The standout event of the day was the withdrawal of Pol Tarres, who suffered a crash at kilometer 111.

The Yamaha rider was found unconscious moments after the fall by Guillaume Borne, who immediately called for assistance.

Quickly taken care of by the medical helicopter, the Andorran rider was evacuated with bruised ribs and leg hematomas.

Forced to abandon the race, Pol Tarres leaves the Africa Eco Race to begin his recovery.

Italians dominated the stage.

Alessandro Botturi, riding his Yamaha Ténéré 700, took the stage victory, finishing 3 minutes ahead of Jacopo Cerutti (Aprilia), winner of the first special stage and starting first this morning, followed by Francesco Montanari (Aprilia).

At the end of this second day, Botturi takes the lead in the overall standings, ahead of Cerutti (Aprilia Tuareg).

Guillaume Borne’s impressive performance on his Husqvarna allows him to climb to third place in the overall rankings.

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